Mohammed attends Expo 2020 Theme Symposium

UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has attended the theme symposium presented to the members of the Bureau International des Expositions’ (BIE) and held at the Arena Hall in Madinat Jumeirah this morning to discuss Dubai Expo 2020 theme entitled “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future: Partnerships for Global Innovation and Sustainable Development”.

Present at the symposium were Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation, Chief Executive of Emirates Group and Chairman of the Higher Committee for the Dubai Expo 2020 Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, a number of senior officials and representatives from 167 member nations of the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the international organisation in charge of overseeing the calendar, bidding, selection and organisation of World Expos.

Before the audiences convene, Sheikh Mohammed welcomed more than 250 representatives and international experts partaking at the symposium running for three days, taking commemorative pictures with them and wishing the event success.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan was the first to address the symposium affirming that the UAE with all its logistics and human capabilities is capable of hosting the international event and making a success out of it, noting the nation’s developmental programs carried out in the country following the directives of the prudent leadership whose committed to ensure decent living standards and high social welfare to the UAE’s citizens.

Sheikh Nahyan also highlighted the readiness of the infrastructure of UAE, in general, and Dubai, in particular, and the state-of-the-art airports with a capacity to handle millions of passengers per year in addition to the ports, hotels, shopping centers build in line with international standers as well as the numerous cultural and historic attractions and facilities that reflects the UAE’s culture.

Dubai’s openness and cultural diversity will increase the Emirate’s odds of winning the bid for Expo 2020 and fulfill the event’s objectives that promote peace, security, peaceful coexistence among nations and peoples, Sheikh Nahyan added.
He also stressed that the UAE Vice President, Prime Minster and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has at his disposal all the qualified, knowledgeable and experienced cadres set out to implement His Highness’s vision to make the UAE No.1 globally.

Concluding his speech, Sheikh Nahyan assured the representatives of the UAE’s hospitality and courtesy, virtues that will engulf the guests of Expo 2020 to UAE. He also pointed out that Dubai’s expo will coincide with the Golden Jubilee of the UAE nation, thus making an extraordinary event.

On behalf of the Secretary General of the Bureau International des Exhibitions (BIE), Chief of Staff of BIE Mr. Dimitri Kerkentzes explained, on the first day of the symposium, how the UAE’s theme embodies the values adopted by the BIE, stating that Dubai’s theme, Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, is the very essence of World Expo.

Other speakers at the symposium include Director of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General on the Millennium Development Goals Professor Jeffrey Sachs; Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi who spoke about the developmental march of the UAE over the last 40 years.

UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of Dubai Expo 2020 Reem Al Hashimy stated that Dubai theme, Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, is perhaps the best way to describe the UAE’s journey as a country and summarize its vision for a World Expo, which truly embodies the expectations of the entire world in the 21st century. President of Emirates Airline Mr Tim Clark also gave an insight into the unprecedented global reach and connectivity of Emirates Airline and its future expansion plans that would bring huge benefit to a World Expo.

Other international speakers, including academics and subtheme experts, gave their own perspective and insights into the opportunities presented by Dubai Expo 2020.

It is worth mentioning that Dubai is competing against three other candidate cities in its bid to host the World Expo in 2020. The final decision will be made on 27 November.

The symposium was also attended by Minister of International Cooperation and Development Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of State and Managing Director of Dubai Expo 2020 Bid Committee Reem Al Hashimy, Director-General of His Highness the Ruler’s Court and Vice President of of Dubai Expo 2020 Bid Committee Mohammad Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Chairman of the Roads and Transport Authority and Member of the Committee Mattar Mohammad Al Tayer, Director General of Dubai Municipality and Member of the Committee Hussain Nasser Lootah, Deputy Commander General of Dubai Police and Member of the Committee Major General Khamis Mutar Al Muzainah, CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre and Director General of Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing and Member of the Committee Helal Saeed Al Marri, Chairman of Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Mohammed Ahmed Al Qamzi, Director General of Dubai’s Protocol Department Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director General of Dubai Government Media Office Mona Ghanim Al Marri and UAE Ambassador to France and number of diplomatic delegations accredited to the UAE Mohamed Mir Abdullah.